back burner

NOUN

reduced priority

Synonyms

WEAK

abeyance cold storage limbo suspension

Antonyms

WEAK

front burner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Those who were thinking about the parties' green policies said they feared climate change had been "put on the back burner".

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

But Epstein talk has definitely been on the back burner in recent weeks, with the war in Iran especially taking precedence.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

Gold and silver prices fell early Wednesday after strong recent gains, with investors beginning to put geopolitical concerns on the back burner.

From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026

Tesla has shown how tough it is to build a business around an affordable EV by putting its own affordable vehicle plans on the back burner.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

On the back burner, a pan of polenta simmered and popped.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon